Latest stories – External relations and foreign affairs

The European Commission has adopted today a legal act to create a simpler, more modern and integrated EU customs system to support cross-border trade and provide for more EU-wide cooperation in customs matters.

The Greece debt crisis took centre stage during July's plenary session, as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras came to Strasbourg to discuss the search for solutions. MEPs also adopted their recommendations for Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and approved a reform of the EU's emissions trading scheme that should boost incentives for green investments.

The 17th bilateral summit between the European Union and China took place on Monday 29 June in Brussels. Leaders agreed to reinforce the EU-China 2020 strategic agenda, adopted at the 2013 summit in Beijing.

The Council launched the EU naval operation to disrupt the business model of human smugglers in the Mediterranean. EUNAVFOR Med is one element of the comprehensive EU response to the migration challenge.

The European Union and Mexico held the 7th EU-Mexico summit in Brussels. Leaders agreed to reinforce the strategic partnership and modernise the EU-Mexico global agreement. They also agreed to strengthen political dialogue between the EU and Mexico on bilateral and multilateral issues.

The second EU-CELAC / 8th EU-LAC summit was held in Brussels on 10-11 June 2015 under the theme: "Shaping our common future: working for prosperous, cohesive and sustainable societies for our citizens".

The EU needs better tools to protect EU intellectual property in third countries, say MEPs in a resolution voted on Tuesday. They ask the EU Commission to look into appropriate means and methods to this end.

On 7-8 June 2015, Germany hosted the meeting of the G7 heads of state and government. The summit focused on the global economy and climate change as well as on key foreign, security and development issues.

The Council established an EU naval operation to disrupt the business model of human smugglers in the Mediterranean, EUNAVFOR Med. This decision is one element of the comprehensive EU response to the migration challenge.

Today, the European Commission presented a European Agenda on Migration outlining the immediate measures that will be taken in order to respond to the crisis situation in the Mediterranean as well as the steps to be taken in the coming years to better manage migration in all its aspects.

Ministers agreed to reinforce the fight against trafficking of human beings, to strengthen EU action to save lives at sea as well as enhance support for countries on the front line, by sharing the resettlement of refugees.

The European Union significantly increased its funding in response to the Syria crisis at today's Third International Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait. Together, the European Commission and Member States pledged close to € 1.1 billion - double the overall EU pledge at the 2014 Conference.

In a set of annual reports, the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy assessed the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) with the 16 partner countries in the East and the South and made recommendations for the year ahead.

During the meeting, EU leaders agreed to create an Energy Union. They also discussed economic topics and external relations, the situation in Libya, relations with Russia and Ukraine, and the objectives of the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit in Riga.

The Council held an in-depth discussion on EU relations with Africa, covering peace and security, prosperity and partnership. The Council also adopted a strategy outlining how the EU and Member States are planning to counter the threat posed by ISIL/Da'esh and help restore peace and security in Syria and Iraq.

The European Commission launched its work on a comprehensive European Agenda on Migration. The College of Commissioners held a first orientation debate on key actions to step up the EU's efforts to implement the existing tools and cooperation in managing migration flows from third countries.

The Council unanimously adopted additional listings concerning separatists in Eastern Ukraine and their supporters in Russia. These consist of an asset freeze and a travel ban on 19 persons and 9 entities involved in action against Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The Council met in an extraordinary session to discuss the latest escalation of violence in Ukraine. It strongly condemned the indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, especially in Mariupol, and the escalation of fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

EU leaders focused on Europe's two most important challenges: boosting investment, and the situation at its eastern borders. It was the first European Council chaired by Donald Tusk as President and it followed a shorter format, a 'one day summit'.

External relations and foreign affairs, Institutional affairs, Regions and local development

The General Affairs Council adopted conclusions on the EU enlargement process and on the role of the Council in safeguarding rule of law. It also dealt with preparations for the upcoming European Council.

Syria and Iraq as well as the fight against ISIL were the main themes of the Foreign Affairs Council. In the margins of the Council meeting, the first EU-Ukraine Association Council was also organised.

At a meeting of the Foreign Council Affairs on development issues, EU ministers discussed a new framework for the coordination of international aid efforts. They also adopted conclusions on migration in EU development cooperation.

At a Foreign Council Affairs meeting, chaired by Federica Mogherini, the new EU High Representative, EU foreign ministers discussed the latest developments in Ukraine. The situation in Middle East was also high on the agenda.

The European Union and its Member States have now pledged more than €1 billion in response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. This means the Union has already gone beyond the target set by the European Council on 24 October for €1 billion in assistance to stem the epidemic.

EU leaders agreed to the world's most ambitious 2030 climate energy policy. They also decided to increase EU financial help to €1 billion to fight Ebola and discussed the state of the European economy. Euro area leaders also met in the Euro Summit format to discuss the euro area.

While the European Court of Auditors (ECA) report delivers a positive verdict on the set-up and general effectiveness of blending regional investment facility grants with financial institution loans, it points out a number of key issues which need to be urgently addressed.

Meeting in the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxemburg, EU ministers discussed joint strategies to contain the Ebola virus. Latest developments in Ukraine, Libya, Iraq, Syria and the Middle east were also on the agenda.

In a set of annual reports adopted today, the European Commission has assessed the progress made over the past year by the countries wishing to join the EU in the Western Balkans and by Turkey, and the challenges ahead.

Meeting in the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, EU ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine following the downing of flight MH17 as well as further sanctions against Russia. Gaza was also discussed.

The 4th EU-Africa Summit brought together more than 60 EU and African leaders, and a total of 90 delegations, to discuss the future of EU-Africa relations and reinforce links between the two continents.

The proposals presented will seriously shorten and simplify the procedures for those wanting to come to the EU for short stays, and induce more cost savings and less bureaucracy, whilst maintaining the level of security.

Although 2013 has been a year of crises in some of its partners, reflecting political instability and difficult socio-economic conditions, the EU has continued to support efforts to enhance democratic governance, build security and support sustainable and inclusive development.

Meeting at the occasion of the EU US Brussels summit, Herman Van Rompuy, José Manuel Barroso, and President Barack Obama discussed the strong EU-US partnership, International foreign policy, the crisis in Ukraine and key global challenges.

The new MFA programme, expected to be approved by the EU's Council of Ministers in the coming weeks, is part of the package of support to Ukraine announced by the European Commission on 5 March and endorsed by the European Council on 6 March.

The Foreign Affairs Council dedicated to development issues decided to resume development cooperation with the Republic of Guinea. It also discussed the post-2015 agenda and policy coherence for development.

The 7th EU-Republic of Korea summit, which took place in Brussels, celebrated 50 years of bilateral relations between the EU and South Korea. Leaders marked the occasion with the adoption of a joint declaration.

The Council adopted a regulation establishing the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) and agreed to confirm the EU common position for the opening of chapter 22 on regional policy and coordination of structural instruments with Turkey.

Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper have today reached a political agreement on the key elements of a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) after months of intense negotiations between EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht and Canadian trade Minister Ed Fast.

In a set of annual reports, the European Commission recommends granting EU candidate status to Albania and, for the fifth time in a row, the opening of accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

EU member states will be better equipped to prevent, detect and combat irregular migration, but also to save migrants' lives, thanks to the "Eurosur" border surveillance system, whose operating rules were approved by Parliament.

In the light of recent developments in Egypt, an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council was held on Wednesday 21 August. The meeting was chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

The European Commission has presented a Communication which contains an Action Plan to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of Europe’s defence and security sector. The Communication foresees measures to strengthen the internal market for defence, to promote a more competitive defence industry and to foster synergies between civil and military research.

Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee will conduct an "in-depth inquiry" into the US surveillance programmes, including the bugging of EU premises and other spying allegations, and present its results by the end of this year, says a resolution passed by the full House. Parliament's President and political group leaders formally confirmed the launch of the inquiry. MEPs also call for more protection for whistleblowers.

The Council agreed to recommend to the European Council to open accession negotiations with Serbia. The Council also agreed in principle on draft Council decisions authorising the opening of negotiations on a stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) between the European Union and Kosovo, to be adopted on 28 June 2013, following the necessary procedures.

The Council discussed the situation in Syria. After the meeting, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy underlined the EU's belief that the crisis must be solved through a political process.